Bowhunting Caribou - Part 2
In "part one" we talked about the various sub species of caribou found across North America and the subtle differences between them. This time around we will discuss hunting methods, equipment, and how to judge a trophy on the hoof.
Hunting methods for caribou run the full gambit from spot and stalk hunting, to calling, to ambush from ground blinds. I suppose you could even hunt them from tree stands, if only you could find a tree tall enough in the areas these magnificent animals call home. Perhaps the most commonly thought of way to hunt them is sitting by a river or lake crossing during the migration. This is especially true of the Quebec/Labrador sub species, which is hunted that way almost exclusively. It's a shame really, that more hunters are not encouraged by their guides/outfitters to go out and actually hunt these animals, however the preferred method is sitting behind a bush or rock waiting for the big one to walk by. The unfortunate thing is that many of the hunters heading north each season will not experience the great migration, and will therefore come home disappointed.
There are a few important pointers for stand hunters to consider when watching a caribou crossing/trail. First is to get into a good vantage point where you will be able to see the animals coming for some distance, and keep them in sight until the shot is taken. If they are crossing water, get to a spot on the side they are crossing to and high enough to watch them exit the water and start down the trail on your side. This allows you to spend time field judging the antlers of the animals while swimming to hopefully pick out one that meets your trophy goals. Because they will often travel in large groups, it is important to keep them in site until you shoot so you do not get confused and arrow the wrong bull. If you wait until there are three dozen bulls with-in twenty yards of you to try to pick out the big one, you will be disappointed! The next thing to look for is a spot that offers good cover and yet is downwind of the trail they will pass you on. Once they start coming it will be hard to move, so be ready. The bull you want may be back in the pack, so it is important that the leaders can pass you by without winding you if you want that undisturbed shot opportunity. Let the bull pass you slightly so your arrow enters behind the front leg angling forward, he will not go far!
Stalking caribou is a lot more fun if you are in decent shape and the terrain is conducive to getting close. For this to work well you need broken cover with enough open ground to spot animals, and enough cover to make a close approach. Sometimes this method is combined with the ambush approach because you just cannot get as close as you would like. In cases like this it is best to try to figure out which general direction the animal is headed and stalk out in front of him to some good ambush cover. Everything will not work out just right every time, but that is why they call it bowhunting (not bow killing). I have found it difficult to rely on guides to give me the straight "scoop" on what to expect on a caribou hunt, and more difficult to believe the glowing references you usually get when calling the "suggested" list of past clients. I do believe in calling these references however, to get information on things like the terrain around camp and what methods were used successfully during their hunts to "catch" trophy bulls.
Caribou tend to stay in open spaces, so any area that has some high ground for spotting should produce sightings. For this type of hunting a good spotting scope is a valuable tool. How you get around with-in the hunting area varies greatly depending on the species hunted and general terrain. For the mountain caribou of western Canada there are many outfits that take you "in country" on horseback. This is a great way to cover a lot of ground, and important when hunting animals that are sometimes thinly spread throughout the area. These guided horseback hunts also allow the opportunity to add moose and sometimes other species to the bag. Due to the extra work and expense involved to set up a true wilderness horseback hunt, you should expect to pay more than for a hunt where they park you by the edge of a river hoping the caribou will pass. These hunts can run twice as much money, but can be five times as thrilling and much more rewarding. Once the trophy is spotted the stalk is on, and I believe you will honestly feel you deserve the trophy if you manage to get him.
Most caribou hunting is done in late August and early September when the animals are either feeding around their summer range, or starting the trek to a breeding/wintering area. This is because the weather gets harsh in most caribou areas by mid September, and going any later in the season puts you at risk of loosing most of your planned hunting days to bad weather. I'm not sure what is worse: being weathered in at the float plane base so you can't get out to hunt, or being stuck out in the bush long after your flight home has been missed? In either case, avoiding the problem usually means booking an early hunt. One of my favorite caribou hunts is for woodland caribou on the island of Newfoundland. Because the island hangs out into the Atlantic in proximity to the Gulf Stream, the weather stays comfortable well into October. By mid October these impressive animals are in full rut adding an interesting dimension to the hunt. There is nothing quite like hunting animals in the rut! At this time the stags (they call the bulls stags in Newfoundland) are keeping the does in the open to better fend off other suitors. This makes them easier to find. They are also constantly on the move trying to keep the ladies in a close group and moving in the direction they have chosen. This means they move a little slower and stalking ahead of them has a higher degree of success. When the inevitable encounter with another stag comes along their full attention is focused on the matter at hand, lending ideal opportunities for stalking in close.
Perhaps the most fun you can have hunting caribou is walking right into a small herd pretending to be a challenging stag. You must keep the wind in your favor or you are doomed, but other than that opportunities abound. Calling as well as posturing are important to keep the stag interested in you as an intruding stag. Snort grunting and beating brush with a stick (axe handle, antler, etc) while gradually working in closer to the does, is a sure fire way of getting the big stag's attention and can often lead to shots at less than thirty yards. Flagging (waving a white or light tan towel) also can bring stags from a long way off right into your lap under the right conditions. The nice thing is they have a tendency to stand around for a couple minutes trying to figure things out before leaving, unlike rattled whitetails or decoyed antelope.
This last Fall I was on a guided caribou hunt at a favorite "bowhunting only" camp in Newfoundland when we spotted a large herd of does and stags. The spotting scope confirmed that three of the stags were "keepers" and that they were all posturing for control of the breeding rights to the 25 plus does. They were working in a general direction which allowed us to get ahead of them hoping to ambush the biggest one when they crossed through a brushy draw. A half hour later I was in position with thirty or more caribou with-in eighty yards. The stags were sparring, herding, and posturing for dominance and paying no attention to anything outside the herd. The does, on the other hand, were not going to be as easily fooled! With too many eyes involved, I backed off to reassess the situation. We tried again, and again I was just too far away to get the shot I wanted when I ran out of cover. My guide (Andy) suggested we try to walk right in on them, as we had a number of other caribou during the week.
Of course, these others were ones we were just "playing with" after determining there was no shooters among them! Andy was wearing a light colored vest, and had me follow him very closely as he approached the herd. He walked in slowly with arms raised and waving side to side like a caribou rack. All the while he was snort grunting and heading as much toward the does as the stag we had our eyes on. It worked! We got all the way in from over 100 yards to 41 yards from the biggest one in the herd. I checked the yardage with my rangefinder, came to full draw and leaned out to the side of Andy for the shot. At that point there were caribou all around us at less than forty yards but the big stag was hidden behind three does that prevented a clear shot. When the does finally moved aside I had been holding a long time, which may have contributed to the missed shot. I was also shooting into a 30-40 mile per hour headwind, which probably did not help the cause; the arrow went just under his chest.
The whole herd spooked! I nocked another arrow and we were off again. This time we got to with-in thirty yards and my arrow flew true taking the big stag through the heart. He went less than 50 yards and fell in sight. I had him field dressed and half caped before the herd moved off; they stayed with-in 150 yards for over an hour as if wondering when the herd bull was going to rejoin them. That was one of the most exciting and rewarding caribou hunts I have ever had!
Just like hunting methods, the equipment you will need varies with the area hunted and time of the year. I find that clothes in many layers is the safest way to prepare for any caribou hunt because the weather can be seventy degrees one day and freezing the next. Rain gear is equally important, as are good waterproof boots (except for mountain hunting). A spotting scope is something I would never leave behind and a good pair of binoculars are also invaluable. I like to carry a small day pack because I like to cover a lot of ground and stay out all day. Food and drinks for the day along with extra clothes, a compass, fire starting material, and a space blanket are always in the pack. I also keep a spare knife and finger tab handy. It does not happen often, but it is possible to be stranded out overnight from time to time, and the few extra items you think you will never need sure come in handy during those times!
Caribou judging on the hoof is a challenge. Caribou size varies from sub species to sub species and from area to area so it is important to study a few animals from the area you plan to hunt to get the best "feel" for what to look for. All stags/bulls will have more impressive headgear than any whitetail you've ever seen, so get used to what to look for or you'll be planning a second hunt soon after taking your first bull and seeing how small he really is! There are a number of scoring factors to consider on caribou. While all points count, you only get to measure the length of the two longest top points on each side. The length of the bez points and shovels, add score, as does the length of the back points if present. Ideally, a good trophy will have all the scorable points (at least two on top, one back point, and a shovel on each side) as well as good beam length and width/spread. It is also important that both sides are well matched to minimize deductions on the final score. The circumferences also count, but they are very hard to judge! Usually the bigger stags/bulls will have white manes that help them stand out in the crowd.
When sizing up a group of caribou I usually look for the large white manes first, then try to evaluate the antler structures on them before glancing at the rest of the herd. In good caribou country you should be able to glass a number of stags every day and get close to some of them. After a few days you will know what will look good on your wall and can make your own decisions.
Good hunting,